Best places to live for an unabashed progressive/leftist?

[Anonymous]

Which community in the greater DC area would be the best for someone with unapologetically progressive and left wing views? Let’s say that I can respect opposing viewpoints and acknowledge that it’s a big country, the Democratic Party is a big tent, and not everyone has to agree - but if given a choice of a local community with shared values and idealism with people working together to build upon a progressive vision, not watered down by polite-society centrism and compromising with moderates? Accepting that compromise and concessions have to be made at the national level, which community is more likely to advance a common, progressive agenda, locally? Especially about the environment, animal rights (most vegan friendly neighborhoods or cities?), lgbtq rights, and a people-over-profits mentality?

[Anonymous]

What is your budget? That is the best way we can help you. You may fit the vibe of Takoma Park but, might be priced out for example.

[Anonymous]

Takoma Park and the historic part of Greenbelt spring to mind.

[Anonymous]

Bethesda? That's where I live
My aunt also lives there and their entire family is hard-core lefty.

However, we're not rude about it. We know to rein it in in conversation. My best friend is a more centrist sort of Democrat.

Also, I'm not going to cut off my nose to spite my face: I realize that if Democrats want to have any chance of preserving their House and Senate majority, they need to steal moderates away from the GOP and persuade them that the right wants to take away their freedoms: Freedom to use their bodies as they see fit, and freedom to use public spaces without dying in a mass shooting. Newsom of California is airing ads on Fox News that talks about exactly that.

Stay on message if you want to help, OP.

[Anonymous]

Until your last line I was going to suggest a community with a relatively high BIPOC population. Generally speaking (and yes these are generalities!!) BIPOC have never stood to benefit much from compromising with moderates, or centrism, and they actually understand how to make progress thanks to their experience in activism and organizing.

But when you say you want the most vegan-friendly neighborhood or city, I dunno, I think that would be a pretty white place and white people have a sad reputation of advocating for progressive things until it doesn't serve their interests so often it's a lot of fake progressivism.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bethesda? That's where I live
My aunt also lives there and their entire family is hard-core lefty.

However, we're not rude about it. We know to rein it in in conversation. My best friend is a more centrist sort of Democrat.

Also, I'm not going to cut off my nose to spite my face: I realize that if Democrats want to have any chance of preserving their House and Senate majority, they need to steal moderates away from the GOP and persuade them that the right wants to take away their freedoms: Freedom to use their bodies as they see fit, and freedom to use public spaces without dying in a mass shooting. Newsom of California is airing ads on Fox News that talks about exactly that.

Stay on message if you want to help, OP.

This never, ever works. It does sound good in their, I'll grant you that, but dems have just been trying to do it for decades and it doesn't work.

If democrats want a chance, they need to see who in their party they are alienating by trying to make friends with moderates, and focus on voting disenfranchisement.

[Anonymous]

Op here:
technically, our HHI is over $300K, but we’re not a married family. No, not a “throuple” either, but it’s me (32/F/white) my partner (34, M, Asian), and another friend (32, non-binary, biracial) that are interested in group living. The real estate market is one thing but the specific thing I’m asking about here is the political vibe. We’re all just really idealistic and focused on locally making a difference.

I acknowledge that national politics is complicated if not hopeless for a left leaning person. We do vote strategically. But I’d be interested in where there is most likely to be locally progressive governance and people willing to build on those ideas. It’s looking like mostly the Maryland suburbs?

But yes, I’m generally of the mind that I’d like to vote as far left as possible locally and then settle for moderates federally.

Also, who are the most left wing elected officials in the area? I’m relatively new here. I need to read up on individual candidates and electeds, but that’s hard to do because there are no unbiased sources (blogs funded by real estate developers, for example, elevate candidates that favor more gentrification and pushing poor people out with luxury high rises, the WaPo favors pro-corporate candidates….) I generally focus on specific issues such as reducing emissions and anti-poverty initiatives.

[Anonymous]

A bunch of DC neighborhoods, particularly East of the Park
Takoma Park, MD
Mt. Rainier, MD
maybe Hyattsville, MD

[Anonymous]

Takoma Park

[Anonymous]

LOL. NOT Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Hyattsville or Mt. Rainier.

Takoma Park is liberal but mostly nuclear families.

[Anonymous]

Takoma Park. Bethesda isn’t it - they are progressive in theory but not when it comes to have three adults in a house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here:
technically, our HHI is over $300K, but we’re not a married family. No, not a “throuple” either, but it’s me (32/F/white) my partner (34, M, Asian), and another friend (32, non-binary, biracial) that are interested in group living. The real estate market is one thing but the specific thing I’m asking about here is the political vibe. We’re all just really idealistic and focused on locally making a difference.

I acknowledge that national politics is complicated if not hopeless for a left leaning person. We do vote strategically. But I’d be interested in where there is most likely to be locally progressive governance and people willing to build on those ideas. It’s looking like mostly the Maryland suburbs?

But yes, I’m generally of the mind that I’d like to vote as far left as possible locally and then settle for moderates federally.

Also, who are the most left wing elected officials in the area? I’m relatively new here. I need to read up on individual candidates and electeds, but that’s hard to do because there are no unbiased sources (blogs funded by real estate developers, for example, elevate candidates that favor more gentrification and pushing poor people out with luxury high rises, the WaPo favors pro-corporate candidates….) I generally focus on specific issues such as reducing emissions and anti-poverty initiatives.

I am super curious how that works. Are you in some sort of open relationship between three of you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op here:
technically, our HHI is over $300K, but we’re not a married family. No, not a “throuple” either, but it’s me (32/F/white) my partner (34, M, Asian), and another friend (32, non-binary, biracial) that are interested in group living. The real estate market is one thing but the specific thing I’m asking about here is the political vibe. We’re all just really idealistic and focused on locally making a difference.

I acknowledge that national politics is complicated if not hopeless for a left leaning person. We do vote strategically. But I’d be interested in where there is most likely to be locally progressive governance and people willing to build on those ideas. It’s looking like mostly the Maryland suburbs?

But yes, I’m generally of the mind that I’d like to vote as far left as possible locally and then settle for moderates federally.

Also, who are the most left wing elected officials in the area? I’m relatively new here. I need to read up on individual candidates and electeds, but that’s hard to do because there are no unbiased sources (blogs funded by real estate developers, for example, elevate candidates that favor more gentrification and pushing poor people out with luxury high rises, the WaPo favors pro-corporate candidates….) I generally focus on specific issues such as reducing emissions and anti-poverty initiatives.

I am super curious how that works. Are you in some sort of open relationship between three of you?

No, just adult roommates. That’s a thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here:
technically, our HHI is over $300K, but we’re not a married family. No, not a “throuple” either, but it’s me (32/F/white) my partner (34, M, Asian), and another friend (32, non-binary, biracial) that are interested in group living. The real estate market is one thing but the specific thing I’m asking about here is the political vibe. We’re all just really idealistic and focused on locally making a difference.

I acknowledge that national politics is complicated if not hopeless for a left leaning person. We do vote strategically. But I’d be interested in where there is most likely to be locally progressive governance and people willing to build on those ideas. It’s looking like mostly the Maryland suburbs?

But yes, I’m generally of the mind that I’d like to vote as far left as possible locally and then settle for moderates federally.

Also, who are the most left wing elected officials in the area? I’m relatively new here. I need to read up on individual candidates and electeds, but that’s hard to do because there are no unbiased sources (blogs funded by real estate developers, for example, elevate candidates that favor more gentrification and pushing poor people out with luxury high rises, the WaPo favors pro-corporate candidates….) I generally focus on specific issues such as reducing emissions and anti-poverty initiatives.

You are getting the right answers to look at Takoma Park, Hyattsville, and Mt. Rainier.

Basically what you probably want is the combination of progressive politics and some degree of town or small-city-based political autonomy.

These places in Maryland come the closest to offering this. You won't find it in Virginia, because the pockets of progressive neighborhoods are part of larger, more moderate jurisdictions (for example, Del Ray is part of larger Alexandria City and the most liberal areas in South Arlington are drowned out by others in Arlington), and the small jurisdictions (like the Town of Vienna or Falls Church City) consist of mainstream, NIMBY-type liberals, not progressive residents.